CA2419410A1

CA2419410A1 - Hands free shopping bag carrier

Info

Publication number: CA2419410A1
Application number: CA 2419410
Authority: CA
Inventors: Stewart Cyr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-19
Filing date: 2003-02-19
Publication date: 2004-08-19

Description

a HANDS FREE SHOPPING BAG CARRIER
The present invention relates a hands free shopping bag carrier.
The prevalent method of bagging groceries is the use of plastic bags equipped with a pair of handles. These plastic bags. are both inexpensive and the handles provide a gripping area compared to paper bags which must be supported from underneath.
For many years, there have been proposals to help people in the transport of relatively heavy loads. Many devices have been described in the art.
Originally, humans used a stick holding a bag over the shoulder although there have been proposals for more sophisticated devices. At the present time, it is common for people to carry their grocery bags and the like by hand. This puts a burden on the forgers, strains the muscles of the wrists and arms; and ties up both hands making it difficult to hold a banister, use stairs, or open or close doors. Furthermore, a large segment of the population usually already has a hand tied up such a~s a business person holding an attache-case, a student carrying books, or an elderly person employing a cane.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which allows for the easy transportation of many grocery bags of the plastic type having handles.
It is a further object ofthe present invention to provide a shopping bag carrier which is easily stored when not in use.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shopping bag carrier which does not require assembly and is light weight.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shopping bag carrier which may be easily manufactured and which is comfortable to carry.
According to the present invention; there is provided a hands free shopping bag Garner which includes a strap; the strap having a flexible shoulder pad and having a pair of swivel snap hooks, one located at each end.
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing the use of the hands free shopping bag carrier of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a view of one end thereof when in use;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the p .resent invention; and Figure 8 is a detail view of the fastening means employed therein.
As shown in Figures I and 2; there is provided a shopping bag Garner which is generally designated by reference numeral lU.
Shopping bag carrier 10 includes a strap member 12 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is of a rectangular configuration. Strap 12 is preferably formed of a webbed material as is known in the art. The particular material employed may be selected from many such materials which are suitable for the purpose.
A shoulder pad I4 is provided in the central portion of strap 12 and extends thereabout in a conventional manner. Shoulder pad 14 may be formed of a molded

-2-flexible rubber material.
'The dimensions of the strap and shoulder pad may vary although preferably, the strap has a length of between 10 and I4 inches and a width of between 1 and 2 inches.
Located at either end of strap 12 are hook assemblies 16. Each hook assembly 16, as may be seen in Figure 1, comprises a frame portion 18 having a slot through which the end of strap 12 extends and is secured, usually by means of a line of stitching. A hook 12 is secured to the other end of frame 18 and which hook is of the snap lock variety.
As shown in Figure 3, the shopping bag earner may be placed over the shoulder of the user and grocery bags 22 having handles 24 may be secured thereto.
An alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 4. In this arrangement, a D-ring is secured at each end of strap 12 intermediate hook assembly 16 and the respective end of shoulder pad 14. D-rings 26 are spaced and sized such that hooks 20 may be secured thereto as indicated by arrow 28. The hooks may be secured to D-ring 26 both when in use and when not in use.
In the various embodiments illustrated herein, similar reference numerals are employed for similar components. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, at one end of strap 12 there may be provided a hook and loop type of fastener having a hook portion 32 and a loop portion 30: As shown in Figure 6; they may be folded upon each other and hold a grocery bag 22 therebetween.
In the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8, at each end of strap 12 there is provided a member 36 having a key shaped slot 38 formed therein. A further member 40 is mounted to the strap 12 and includes a raised button portion 42 designed to fit within keyhole aperture 38 and be retained thereby. The secured grocery bag 22.is illustrated in Figure 7.

-3-It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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